What do GLP1 therapies (Ozempic, Mounjaro) do – and how do they work?

You know that feeling at the end of a leisurely meal at a restaurant, where you feel comfortably full – and you could eat more, I guess, but you could take or leave it? That feeling is, of course, ‘satiety’.

GLP1 therapies trigger a feeling of satiety. They work by mimicking the body’s natural satiety signal- GLP1.

That’s mostly what you need to know as it explains a lot of the symptoms.

The nausea that some report as a side effect is related to doses of these therapies that are at the higher end for a particular individual, and are similar to those feelings we have when we’ve overeaten.

There are two other notable symptoms:

Lowered blood sugar

This, combined with eating less can lead to feelings of fatigue and tiredness. You might find your exercise class harder than usual, and this is normal.

If you feel severely dizzy and sick, then please see your physician. Anything major – it’s crucial to check in with your doc.

Slower digestion

…or more specifically, slower stomach emptying. This means that we feel fuller for longer (yay!) but can mean that we experience reflux if we eat too late before bedtime. It can also mean that, combined with eating less, you can get a bit constipated.

Remember:

• Make meals count – when you do eat, make sure you’re taking in as much fibre as possible (green veg, fruit) as well as protein, of course.
• Have your knees raised and wide (like a squat) when you poop. It sounds silly, but it puts your ‘pooping system’ in the optimal alignment. If you think about it, it’s how we were designed to do it!

---